Vision…
The vision at Victory School of Hope is to provide facilities for children in the Blacksands community to access education and climb out of the cycle of poverty. Blacksands is an informal peri-urban community just outside the municipality of Port Vila in Vanuatu. Many people living in this community have been displaced by multiple natural disasters and are very poor. Facilities such as electricity, water, sanitation, and waste management are makeshift and provide many challenges.
Construction Hiatus…
In early 2018 the first desperately needed classroom was completed followed with others in 2019 and 2020. As the school grew the teachers loved their new airy classrooms and there was excitement among the children, parents and local community. Then Covid-19 hit everyone, everywhere, and the functioning of the school. Construction was affected with difficulty finding local volunteer labour, materials shortage and rising costs.
Building continued in 2020 with completion of a toilet, fence, a sand pit for the kindergarten and an administration building. In 2021 it became evident that a fence around the property was needed to prevent people wandering in and disturbing both the teachers and students and to stop break ins.
Construction of the 3-classroom building for years 7, 8 and 9 commenced in 2022 with great enthusiasm but slowed due to shortage of labour and available funds. It has taken a long time for the classrooms to be ready for the students. Not all the internal work was completed but the students were able to move in ready for the 2024 school year after receiving funding for chairs and desks.
Onwards and upwards…
Teachers and students were excited and most thankful for the generosity of those who had helped bring the 3-classrooms to completion. With the new large classrooms and interest in the school, student numbers have increased over the years. Enrolments were 210 in 2018, 360 in 2020 and 373 in 2024.
Their ongoing vision is for completion of the canteen, completion of the toilet (pegging out just commenced), 3 Primary classrooms, 4 Secondary classroom, Kindergarten building, Science lab, Computer lab and library.
You can help…
If you wish to support the completion of the classrooms and auxiliary buildings to promote learning and increase the opportunities for these precious children, please click on “Donate to this Project” on the right sidebar. Thank you.
All gifts are tax deductible and will benefit this project in their entirety except for bank fees.